Top News

State pensioners across the UK will receive a Christmas boost of up to £921 earlier than normal this month if they have a specific two-digit code.

Benefit payments, including the State Pension, are sent into bank accounts early when the payment date falls on a bank holiday. In these cases, the DWP will usually send the payment on the earliest working day before. As two bank holidays fall in December, on Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26, followed by a third bank holiday in January on New Years Day (January 1), it means many pensioners can expect to receive their State Pension payment earlier than normal this month.

Pensioners who are expecting a payment on Thursday, December 25, will instead receive this on Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), as this is the earliest working day before the bank holiday. Similarly, those who are expecting a payment on Friday, December 26, will also receive their payment on Wednesday, December 24, instead. As for pensioners expecting a payment on Thursday, January 1, this will also be paid early on Wednesday, December 31 (New Year's Eve).

The earlier-than-normal payment dates mean that pensioners will have to make their money last a bit longer until their next payment arrives in January.

Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:

• 00 to 19 - paid on Monday
• 20 to 39 - paid on Tuesday
• 40 to 59 - paid on Wednesday
• 60 to 79 - paid on Thursday
• 80 to 99 - paid on Friday

So if your National Insurance number ends in 60 to 79 it means your usual payment normally falls on a Thursday, and if it ends in 80 to 99 then it normally falls on a Friday. As such, this may correspond with the December bank holiday days, which means you will be paid earlier than normal on the earliest working day before.

If your State Pension payment date is changing this month, you don't need to do anything as your money will be paid straight into your usual bank, building society or credit union account.

The DWP explains: "Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you'll usually be paid on the working day before."

The State Pension is usually paid every four weeks and the amount pensioners receive from the DWP depends on when you retired.

Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension, which is worth up to £176.45 per week, or £705.80 per month if you get the full rate.

Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, get the new State Pension, which is worth up to £230.25 per week, or £921 per month if you get the full rate.

Other DWP and HMRC benefits payment dates will also be affected by the bank holidays this month. If you aren't sure when your payment usually falls, this is how often the following benefits are paid by the DWP and HMRC:

• Universal Credit - paid every month
• Pension Credit - usually paid every four weeks
• Disability Living Allowance - usually paid every four weeks
• Personal Independence Payment - usually paid every four weeks
• Attendance Allowance - paid every four weeks
• Carer's Allowance - paid weekly in advance or every four weeks
• Employment Support Allowance - usually paid every two weeks
• Income Support - usually paid every two weeks
• Jobseeker's Allowance - usually paid every two weeks
• Maternity Allowance - paid every two or four weeks
• Child Benefit (paid by HMRC) - usually paid every four weeks, or weekly if you're a single parents or you or your partner get certain benefits
• Tax Credits (paid by HMRC) - paid every four weeks or weekly